From the Executive Chairman

Welcome to our website where you can learn more about how the international community is assisting developing countries and other projects and issues that impact the global agenda and it’s outcomes. Each quarter we will focus on a topical issue such as the G20, security matters, privacy, intellectual property and how business is connected to them. I will be introducing thought leaders on important topics and our own experts will provide insight.

The Turkish G20 Contributions

Moving forward to China

While terror attacks in Beirut and Paris further the tensions of the refugee crisis, Turkey passes the baton to China with some unified resolve among members on what should be done on these latest challenges as well as the pre-planned agenda. The G20 has taken place at the coastal city of Antalya and the many issues on the agenda signal the challenges ahead. The economic downturn and the jobs crisis is seeing little improvement and most likely getting worse. But it’s the refugee crisis and its impacts on regional security that is towering above these because of its immediate impact and the potential for destabilizing Europe. This has been dramatically worsened by the terror events these past days. Among the big issues at the G20 Energy supply remained important. Commodities and oil prices have crashed and will lead to harder times for executives in these industries. The tears should however be spread around as pointed out at the recent joint press conference by the Secretary General of the UN and the head of the Red Cross who confirmed we are in the worst refugee situation since WW2. What is happening in the Middle East could see further disruption from the collapse of oil prices as the oil producers have falling revenues. I guess the bigger game has to take into account factors not only affecting the gulf region and the OPEC countries but the US and Russia. All of this is very real in Antalya, the G20 venue as it is close to Syria and the conflict going on is of geographic significance to Turkey. We need to understand what this is doing to business confidence and global trade as it is very clear there is a serious slow down everywhere including in China. The shipping giants like Maersk are experiencing as much as a sixty percent drop in profits and are laying off large numbers of workers as well as cancelling orders for new ships. This disruption is affecting the relatively peaceful era that we in the West have enjoyed since WW2. Of course this is only one of the massive disruptive waves that today are impacting developed and developing nations alike. The G20 is a powerful forum perhaps the most powerful, but it remains difficult for member states to achieve true consensus on the actions to be taken.

Executive Posts

Paris May/ June 2016

by | Sep 19, 2016 |

Another OECD week, meetings with B20 task forces and BIAC. Nigel Arthur and Andy Song joined me at a number of these meetings held at the OECD over the first days of June. These included a session at which Nicolas Cary the co-founder of Blockchain participated.

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July 2016

by | Sep 19, 2016 |

We have taken steps to formalize relationships and establish collaboration with the INSME International Network of SMEs following meeting Sergio Arzeni the President of INSME in Paris. Follow up discussions will take place with Christin Pfeiffer the Secretary General...

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August 2016

by | Sep 19, 2016 |

Keidanren and Africa Recent announcements by Keidanren and TICAD in Japan about initiatives in Africa caught my attention and reminded me of the good work of the Japanese government agencies and private sector in this regard in past years and my many friendships in...

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August 2016

by | Sep 19, 2016 |

The Deteriorating situation in South Sudan saddens those of us who have spent time in the hope that this new nation would prosper from its independence and after having been involved in conferences and eve

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May 31 2016

by | May 31, 2016 |

Meeting with Bernhard Welschke Secretary General of BIAC at their offices in Paris. Nigel and I had a useful discussion about progress on matters of trust and the GTR before leaving Paris following the OECD week. The continual rain and flooding of the Seine river made...

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May 31 2016

by | May 31, 2016 |

I met with Rintaro Tamaki, Deputy Secretary General at the OECD in his office following his address to the BIAC-B20 Roundtable on Financing SMEs in Global Value Chains. Mr Tamaki had raised points during his Roundtable address that were of particular interest and we...

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May 19, 2016

by | May 19, 2016 |

Energy and energising others with that edge and executional capacity are all essential as Jack Welsh points out but it’s the Passion that’s the only one that will keep you going

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May 17, 2016

by | May 17, 2016 |

Nigel Arthur the senior VP of eNotus in Asia participated in a number of meetings in Washington DC at the IMF headquarters where the subject of an electronic or digital platform for world trade was discussed at B20 Task Force meetings. Mr Arthur is see in...

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May 17, 2016

by | May 17, 2016 |

Nigel Arthur the senior VP of eNotus in Asia participated in a number of meetings in Washington DC at the IMF headquarters where the subject of an electronic or digital platform for world trade was discussed at B20 Task Force meetings. Mr Arthur is see in the photo in...

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